This month the full moon is called a Wolf moon. I walked Long Beach with a friend and being the ever diligent photographer I took along one of my cameras………just in case?
As we walked towards Greenpoint (Park campground) I noticed the moon was at a perfect angle and contrast to do a eagle/moon shot! I only get a handful of these moments each year! So as we walked and chatted I kept a close eye on the tree line for a perching eagle! We walked for over a hour and never saw a single one. Than as we reached Greenpoint I noticed one drying it’s wings out! An eagle will open it’s wing downward to allow the air to dry the wings underside. Being wet means it’s heavier. Being heavier means the eagle will have to expend more energy. Which in turn means they’ll need to eat more often.
So they dry themselves off to be lighter. The feathers are more responsive to the air currents when they are dry.
So cool. Full moon is Jan 28th. Southern Ontario should be a good view if it is clear. Hopefully your BC version is just as good!
Good to hear from you Julie! It’s been years. Hope your both doing well.
Just checked your weather for tomorrow night. Doesn’t look good,your most likely going to have overcast conditions with maybe some isolated breaks at best?
Good luck! We’re going to be 100% overcast guaranteed! Glad I got this when I did!
take care
That is a gorgeous photo, Wayne. Thanks for the explanation about how they dry their wings. I always thought they were just stretching.
thank you,they go into “dry” mode as soon as it stops raining.
Lovely shot, Wayne! Glad you got out and down Long Beach. A good stretch, blow away the cobwebs.
Wish this rain would turn to snow – or stop!
Thank you Adam,I realized I haven’t been to Greenpoint’s rock in more years than I could remember!
Very interesting! We have a lot of eagles, but I’ve never seen one do that. Maybe because we are a bit farther South. Thank you for sharing!
Yes,a rainstorm would have to come through for you to see them doing this Geri.
Always a pleasure to hear from you Geri!
This is a stunning picture, Wayne. Thanks also for this information.
thank you Robbie! You do not have Baldies in your area I assume? Maybe a different kind of Sea Eagle?
HI Wayne, this is an extract from my new book set in South Africa which describes the wildlife in our area:
Beyond the chicken coop lay a dense thicket of trees which was a cool
and shady refuge during the hot summer months and beyond the thicket,
stretched the grasslands which teamed with life. Estelle frequently saw a
slender mongoose or shy duiker during her afternoon walks, as well as
hundreds of scrub hares.
The bird life was rich and varied and included hundreds of different
species: small waxbills with their violet cheeks, red bills and blue foreheads and rumps, red-faced and speckled mousebirds, sparrows, crested
and black-collared barbets, cape robins, and yellow and black bokmakieries with their distinctive cry of bok-bok-mak-kik. There were also the
birds of prey: the black sparrowhawks, buzzards, black-shouldered kites,
branded harrier hawks, and the lanner falcons, all of which fed mainly on
the smaller birds.
Various species of skinks, yellow-throated or plated lizards and rock
monitors lurked among the rocky outcrops and hundreds of butterflies
and bees lived in the tall, waving grass. The spiders were dreadful,
especially the rain spiders with their large, bulbous and hairy bodies and
legs that were more than double the length of her thumb.
Thanks Robbie! So as I suspected you do not have any Baldies,but you do have 5 other types of Eagles!
https://ker-downeyafrica.com/journal/types-of-eagles-in-south-africa
Have you ever seen any of these?
Hi Wayne, I have seen these eagles: https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/feel-good-its-official-roodekrans-black-eagles-are-proud-parents-20200610 and the Walberg’s eagle at the Kruger National Park.
Aren’t they beautiful! Never heard of Black Eagles before? They sound famous too!
Thanks Robbie!
🖤
More of an eagle moon… but beautifully captured…
yes,I was taking creative license.
I was very happy to come across one with the moon being perfect! Many times I see the moon is perfect but cannot find any of my eagle friends perched perfectly!
I’m sure you will, one of these days!
I get twelve times each year and your just about guaranteed that half of them will be lost due to overcast conditions.
Right place right time cannot be taught,only learned ……from mistakes.
So true, we both agree…
A book teaches a person ligthly,a teacher can deliver the information deeper but the deepest form of learning comes from making mistakes. Mistakes go to the bone!
From cradle to grave we will make millions of “recoverable” mistakes but will only make one “non-recoverable” mistake.
I think I have gone way past one of those, but hey, I’m still here!
School is never out for the adventurous of heart.
So it would seem, no matter how old you get!
What an incredible shot! Well done Wayne!
thank you Emma…………maybe an eagle will show up for one of your beautiful paintings sometime?……..wearing a mask of course!
I once tried drwaing an eagle but it looked nmore like a seagull so I gave up!! lol!
I know what the problem is Emma…..you paint what your familiar with!
So that means Gulls have been hanging around you! If you hung around some Baldies for awhile you’d be able to paint them. So I’m sending over some of my fine feathered friends for you to become better acquainted with!
That woud be exciting! Thanks wayne.
Beautiful picture. Why is it called a wolf eagle moon?
technically this month the moon is called a “Wolf” moon and with it being an Eagle I was photographing,I’ve taken the liberty and call this shot a “Wolf Eagle Moon”.
Lovely shot. Wish I could lose weight by drying out!
You better take a number and get in line Anne……we all wish it were that easy!
What a wonderful Wolf Eagle Moon!
Thank you!
All the way from Canada’s west coast to you!
cool
thanks for dropping in Sherry!
I learn something from your photos every time!
and you get a A+ Noelle!
:) :) :)
Very nice! Great image! Enjoyed seeing it!
thanks Reed! You get many Baldies during the winter down your way? Are they migratory?
Wayne, I do believe the English language falls short of the adjectives to give proper acclaim to this picture. Your wisdom, patience, and eagle eyed vision were well rewarded. I greatly appreciate that you often take the time in your posts to share additional information about the subject of your photographs. I have learned much and am grateful that you willingly pass on your knowledge.
Thank you Beth for your heart felt compliment! If I’m doing something right It’s only because I’ve learned so much from doing it wrong. Wisdom comes from mistakes. The wisest person will of made the most mistakes.
I’ve always observed and tried to understand. Natural curiosity I suppose.
Stay safe Beth.
Excellent!! I didn’t notice the moon until yesterday morning when I was taking my daughter to school (-28C and my camera was in the house) and by the time I got back, it was too late! So I missed a beautiful moon-set.
you still have it in your memory but a camera would allow you to share your experience.
Being photographically mindful is my religion. Thats why I took my camera! I took my big lens because the beach has far views. I’ve made my fare share of mistakes and learned from them.
I miss the weather btw. I found winter camping exhilarating!
Always good to hear from you Tania!
Take care.
Hanging the washing out to dry. :D
ha ha….I like that!
Wow! This is a once in a blue moon (well, wolf moon) shot.
thank you Jennie,right place right time!
Exactly!
This is a great picture of the moon, the tree and the eagle perching. You were lucky to have all three items lined up perfectly.
not really Linda………the eagle was already in that tree and I simply walked around on the beach to line the moon up with the eagle.
What I was lucky about was that the eagle choose a tree spire to dry out on. Nothing in behind to block the moon.
I forgot to mention that they always face into the breeze,telling you like weather vane what direction the wind is blowing! NE in this shot.
The eagle did not want to be disturbed while it dried out as it feel vulnerable with its flight feathers wet and useless. So it was your lucky day. That’s interesting … like they anticipate the breeze, almost like they stand in front of a fan.
Oh it could still fly perfectly fine. It just was trying to get rid of extra weight. They feel what direction the breeze is coming. They always land against the wind anyways.
many tx for sharing with us :)